The Five
Elements

The Five Elements, or Five Phases, are aspects
of Qi. These are Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. In the poetic language
of the Five Elements, health is a harmonious balance of all the elements.
The Qi of the elements waxes and wanes in daily and seasonal cycles. Each
one of us is a unique and characteristic blend of the influences of all
the elements.

Wood

Meridians:
Liver/Gallbladder

People who have strong energy of the Wood
element have a clear vision and goals, and know how to bring them into
being. They excel at planning and decision making. They can be forceful
in disagreements and can strongly argue their opinions. Their piercing,
penetrating eyes may attract you, but avoid their wrath.

Wood
Imbalance

When the wood Qi is weak, people can
be indecisive, without strong direction in life, and stuck. They may be
constrained emotionally, unable to express anger. When the Liver
Qi is congested or stagnant, people can be arrogant, over controlling,
and have angry dispositions. They may have a tendency to be workaholics
or have addictive personalities, including the possibility of abusing drugs
and alcohol. They may have digestive problems like bloating, gas, alternating
constipation and diarrhea.

When Liver Qi is imbalanced, hot and spicy
foods may cause too much heat. Sour and bitter flavors are said to benefit
the Liver meridian. Excessive frustration and irritation can be especially
difficult when the Liver meridian is out of balance. Physical exercise
and reading can help restore balance. The fall is a vulnerable time, as
well as the winds of March, and extremely hot weather.

Common signs of Liver meridian stress include
dry, brittle, thickened nails and pain just below the ribs. Common illnesses
include migraines, eye problems, and sinus problems. The Liver meridian
circles the genitals, and rashes and discharges are associated with its
imbalance, as well as hernias. For women, menstrual problems are common
including PMS, painful periods, and heavy bleeding. Uterine fibroids may
be related to imbalance of the Liver meridian as well. The Liver and Gallbladder
meridian pathways traverse the top and sides of the head, the most common
sites for migraine headaches.

The Qi of the Wood element flourishes in
the spring when plants are sprouting new growth; and the color of this
element is green.

Fire

Meridians:
Heart, Small Intestines, Pericardium, Triple Warmer

People with strong Fire energy may be quite
charismatic. They excel at commanding others to action. They may love talking
and socializing.

Fire
Imbalance

When the Fire Qi is weak, a person may be
lackluster or bland. They may suffer from anxiety, restlessness, and insomnia.
They may stutter, talk too much and too rapidly, or laugh nervously. They
may be too excitable, easily stimulated to excesses, or they may be emotionally
cold and unfeeling.

Common illnesses include palpitations,
hypertension, heart problems, and sores on the mouth and tongue.
People strongly influenced by the Fire element may be vulnerable in very
hot weather, and may be calmed and centered by walking. The bitter flavor
favors the Fire Qi. Coffee is a bitter flavor, but its effects may
aggravate the Heart Qi. The healthy bitter flavors include dark, green
leafy vegetables.

Earth

Meridians:
Stomach/Spleen

Someone with well developed Earth energy
is a well grounded, nurturing, compassionate person, sometimes depicted
as the archtypical “earth mother”. Earth people like to bring others
together and make good mediators or peacemakers and reliable friends. They
often enjoy both preparing food and eating. You may be attracted by their
generous mouth and full, sensuous lips.

Earth
Imbalance

When people have weak Earth Qi, they can be
worriers and meddlers. They are prone to pensiveness. They may overwork,
especially in studying or other intellectual work. They are vulnerable
to digestive problems and diarrhea. They may gain weight easily and lose
it with difficulty. Their bodies have a tendency to make excessive mucus,
and they may suffer from cloudy thinking, muzzy-headedness, and a lack
of clarity.

Those with weak Earth Qi often feel better
when they limit cold, raw foods and dairy products. They should eat warming
foods and grains to stay well grounded. They may crave sweets. The sweet
taste can be satisfied by eating sweet grains, vegetables, and fruits rather
than processed sugars.

Common illnesses include: fatigue, diarrhea,
gas & bloating, food allergies & sensitivities, eating disorders,
heartburn, and canker sores. Excessive mucus may collect in the lungs
or in the sinuses. In women, menstrual problems may include either excessively
light or heavy periods.

The Qi of the earth element flourishes
in Indian Summer, those golden moments of fullness before the waning of
the light. The earth color is yellow, like the sun, and the ripened crops,
and the root vegetables. Sitting meditation is said to strengthen the earth
element.

Metal

Meridians:
Lungs/Large Intestines

A person with well balanced Metal energy
is well organized, self disciplined, and conscientious. They like structure
in their life. They are most comfortable in situations when they know the
rules and can succeed by following them. Metal Qi bestows a deep inner
strength, like ore mined from the mountains.

Metal
Imbalance

A person with Metal Qi imbalance may be grief-stricken,
steeped in sadness. They may be overly critical. They may have trouble
letting go. When the Metal energy is weak, there can be illnesses of the
lungs – asthma, allergies, frequent colds. The Lung meridian rules the
skin, so rashes, eczema, and problems with sweating can be related to Metal
imbalance. The Large Intestine meridian can be affected by chronic
constipation or diarrhea, or other bowel diseases.

The Metal energy peaks in the fall. In
the cool, crisp, clean air of autumn, metal people feel they can accomplish
anything. The color of Metal is white, and people strongly influenced by
the Metal Qi may have pale complexions.

Water

Meridians:
Kidneys, Bladder

The Water energy is a strong generative
force centered in the lower belly. When the Kidney Qi is strong, a person
is fearless, determined, and can endure many hardships in pursuit of their
goals. Persevering by will power is characteristic of those with strong
Kidney Qi. Longevity is also considered to be associated with healthy Kidney
Qi, signified by large, elongated ear lobes, like those of the Buddha.

Water
Imbalance

When the Kidney Qi is weak, there can be problems
with water metabolism, urination, fertility, or sexuality. This person
could be anxious, fearful, and withdrawn, and in more severe cases, phobic.

Kidney Qi declines with aging. There may
be diminished hearing or ringing in the ears. In menopause, the Kidney
yin declines, which is associated with classic signs of heat and dryness
– hot flashes, night sweats, dry skin and mucous membranes. Kidney yang
weakness is associated with cold – cold extremities, cold back and belly,
declining sexual vigor, urinary frequency or incontinence.

The color of the Kidney is black, like
the night, or like black ice. When the Kidney Qi starts to weaken, dark
circles or pouches appear under the eyes. The Kidney Qi rules in the winter,
a time when living things are contracted with cold. Like a seed deep in
the cold ground, Qi is dormant, waiting for the time to sprout.